➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶
MACKENNA

I DESERVE THESE HOTDOGS SO MUCH. Freya was the one who told me about these Times Square hotdog stands, and I must say that they are well worth the trip!

Deserve ko 'tong limang hotdog na 'to pagkatapos ng mga nangyari sa'kin nitong nakaraang araw. Stress and constant overthinking can be really exhausting. And all I want is some peace and quiet, even if only for a day. But then again, I'm Mackenna Evans, and wishing for a peaceful day is nearly impossible.

Simple lang naman ang plano ko ngayong araw. Bumili ng journal, bumili at kumain ng hotdog sa Times Square tapos susulitin ko ang araw ko dahil bukas plano kong balikan ulit si Savanna para kausapin.

That's it. Simple lang. Kumbaga one way lang ang goal ko. Pero napaliko na naman ako ng daan dahil biglang nagkita na naman kami ni Scout.

What are the chances nga naman? Brooklyn is massive, and yet here I am, back with Scout, whom I thought I'd never see again after that one drunken night with him.

Buong akala ko talaga malabo na magkita pa kami ulit. Pero akala ko lang pala 'yon. That's why I took advantage of the opportunity to invite him to join me in Times Square for hotdogs, knowing that it might be the last time we see each other.

And there's nothing wrong with inviting someone you had a one-night stand with to eat a hotdog, right? Because this is an entirely coincidental and friendly invitation.

Plus, he's teaching me some jejemon words! Hindi ko alam na may mga gano'ng words pala silang ginagamit sa Pilipinas. It's really cool! Scout is really nice and friendly, and I really enjoy his company.

And so when Ryder called me a while ago, asking me to have lunch with him, I didn't hesitate to just invite him over as well, because I thought Scout wouldn't mind. But then again, I was wrong. Dahil hindi ko maipaliwanag 'yung tensyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

"Hey! You really came!" Sinalubong ko si Ryder nang tawagin niya ako. As usual, he looks dashing. He's dressed casually in a white fitted shirt, khaki jeans, and Rayban sunglasses.

"Of course," he said before pulling me in for a hug, which baffled me because of his unexpected gesture towards me. "How are you, Mackenna?"

"I'm good. I already ate two hotdogs," I boasted, feeling proud of myself after pulling out of the hug.

"Well done," he says, smiling. He ruffled my hair while his piercing blue eyes were locked onto mine with so much intensity. And then his eyes shifted from me to Scout, who was now standing next to me.

"Scout, pare." Pagpapakilala ni Scout sa sarili niya bago ko pa siya ipakilala. He offered his hand to Ryder for a handshake. Sandaling napakunot 'yung noo ko dahil napansin ko rin na ang seryoso ng mukha ni Scout, 'di gaya kanina nung magkasama kaming dalawa lang.

"Nice meeting you, Scout Pare. I'm Ryder," Ryder replied, shaking Scout's hand. Scout snickered because of what Ryder has said. Mabuti nalang hindi napansin ni Ryder na pinagtatawanan siya ni Scout dahil sa sinabi nito.

"'Di ba marunong magtagalog 'to?" Pasimpleng bulong ni Scout sa'kin pagkatapos nilang mag shake hands ni Ryder.

Umiling ako. "Nope. Half pinoy siya, pero hindi siya marunong mag tagalog." Sagot ko at ngumiti lang nang nakakaloko si Scout.

"La pala 'to e,"

"Excuse me?" Sabi ni Ryder dahil sa sinabi ni Scout.

"Umm, Ryder, do you want to buy some hotdogs?" Pag-aya ko sakaniya para hindi na niya tanungin kung ano 'yung sinabi ni Scout. Habang pinanlalakihan ko naman ng mata si Scout para tumigil na siya.

Maybe I should've told Scout first before inviting Ryder here. Akala ko kasi magkakasundo silang dalawa dahil friendly naman si Scout. Mukhang mali yata ang naging desisyon ko.

"Wait a second," Ryder suddenly said, while eyeing Scout intently. "You look really familiar."

Tinuro ni Scout 'yung sarili niya. "Me?" Tumango naman si Ryder. My forehead creased a little.

"Yes, you. I think I've seen you somewhere before."

"Sus. Nag-iisa lang 'tong mukhang 'to. Ngayon lang kita nakita kaya imposibleng nakita mo na ako dati," sagot ni Scout kaya siniko ko siya.

"English only," bulong ko. Nagkibit balikat si Scout kaya kinunutan ko siya ng noo.

"Wala akong baon na English, sorry,"

"You're on my cousin's Instagram story! I knew I'd seen you before," sabay kaming napatingin ni Scout kay Ryder. He's smiling as if he's just cracked a code. "You're Stella's boyfriend, right?"

My heart sank.

Boyfriend? I thought he didn't have a syota?

"Stella said that you couldn't come when we met the other day because you were called for a flight back to Manila. Does she know you're back already? I should probably call her."

"Sandali—I mean, wait! Don't call her yet. She doesn't know that I'm back yet. I was actually going to surprise her." Scout scratched the back of her neck with a nervous smile. Scout has a habit of scratching the back of his neck when he's nervous or being cheeky, which I've noticed.

So, he does, in fact, have a girlfriend. Why would he lie to me? I clenched my fist in frustration and averted my gaze away from Scout. I can't look him in the eye.

After everything that's happened to me, what I despise the most is being deceived. Even if it is only a small lie, it is still a lie. Because a small and harmful lie has the potential to grow and become out of control. So, I hate him for lying to me about having a girlfriend... and I despise myself for sleeping with someone who has a girlfriend.

Worst of all, his girlfriend is Ryder's cousin.

Our world is becoming smaller. And guilt is already eating me alive!

"Are you all right, Mackenna?" Ryder inquired. He moved in closer and immediately caressed my cheeks. "You're so pale."

"I-i'm all right." I smiled reassuringly at Ryder. "I probably just ate too many hotdogs," I softly chuckled to lighten the mood. Then I noticed Scout in my peripheral vision, staring at us with a serious expression on his face. The playfulness on his lips has disappeared.

Ryder nodded his head. "Okay, let me know if you're not feeling good alright?" he said, and I just smiled at him.

"So, Scout Pare, what's your plan for surprising Stella today?" Ryder asked Scout. Sandaling hindi umimik si Scout habang seryoso lang siyang nakatingin kay Ryder.

"Uhm, I'm not sure yet." sagot ni Scout habang napakamot na naman siya sa batok niya.

"Well, I have an idea. I actually made a reservation on a fancy restaurant for Mackenna and I for dinner. Why don't you and Stella just come with us? I can just call and invite her over. Promise, I will not give her any hint that you're here." Ryder suggested. Scout's gaze shifted to mine, as if he's asking for my permission but instead, I averted my gaze from him again and agreed with Ryder.

"That will be fun! Call your cousin." I smiled at Ryder.

"Okay. I will call her now. I'll be back," Ryder excused himself to call her cousin, Stella. Kaya naiwan kaming dalawa ni Scout. Nakatitig lang siya sa'kin at hindi ko naman siya magawang tignan pabalik kaya naglakad nalang ako pabalik sa puwesto namin kanina. I picked up my left-over hotdogs and put it back on the paper bag.

"Mackenna." pagtawag sa'kin ni Scout, pero nagkunwari akong hindi siya naririnig. Tutal medyo maingay rin naman dito sa Times Square dahil maraming tao. Nakailang ulit pa siya sa pagtawag sa'kin pero hindi ko talaga siya pinapansin, hanggang sa maramdaman ko 'yung maghawak niya sa balikat ko.

I flinched from his touch.

"B-bakit?" I hate myself for stuttering. I still couldn't look him in the eye.

"Galit ka ba?" tanong niya. Tumawa ako bago naglakad palayo sakaniya.

"Why would I be mad at you? Hindi lang kita naririnig kasi ang ingay dito."

"Galit ka e,"

"Hindi nga sabi."

"E bakit iniiwasan mo 'ko." I just shrugged at him. Nakailang beses na ako sa pag-labas at pasok ng hotdog mula sa paper bag.

"Hindi ko naman talaga syota si Stella."

"Okay."

"Mackenna naman," sabi niya at saka ako nilapitan ulit.

"Bakit ba? Syota mo man siya o hindi, I don't care, Scout." Tinignan ko siya nang diretso sa mga mata para malaman niyang seryoso ako. "And if you're scared that I'll tell Stella about what happened to us, I swear on my grave that I won't. What happened to us was a huge mistake that should not have happened in the first place. I was drunk, and you are drunk. It was just one drunken night. That's it."

Natahimik si Scout dahil sa mga sinabi ko. I don't want to lie to anybody since I hate being lied to. But for the sake of their relationship, I will not utter a single word about what happened that night. I will not wreck someone's relationship because of my stupidity.

"Everything's settled! I already informed Stella about the plan for tonight." Ryder made an announcement when he returned. Tapos tinuro niya si Scout. "And you, my friend, will have to surprise her with flowers or something, okay?"Tipid lang na ngumiti lang si Scout kay Ryder.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶

Ryder and I left Scout alone so that he could get flowers for Stella. We simply wandered around and checked out a few souvenir shops. Ryder bought me a beanie with the word "meow" written on it because he thinks I'm adorable like a cat. I told him he didn't have to, but he still insisted.

"Are you a dog person or a cat person?" Ryder suddenly asked while we were walking around. There are people everywhere I look. That's how populated Times Square is.

"Hmm... I think I'm both. I like dogs and cats. I like pets in general, actually."

"Cute," Ryder said, smiling. Tapos nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hawakan 'yung kamay ko at saka ako hinatak.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

He looked over his shoulder and met my gaze. "You'll see. It's a surprise, but I promise you'll gonna love it." He said before winking at me. Hindi na ako nagtanong pa at hinayaan nalang siya na hilahin ako kung saan man.

Hindi naman malayo 'yung pinuntahan namin dahil tumigil din kami agad sa tapat ng isang store na may malaking sign na nakalagay "Petness Overload". Nanlaki 'yung mga mata ko nang makita ko 'yung mga cute puppies sa window nung store.

"Oh, my gosh!" I clapped both my hands over my mouth in excitement. Ryder just brought me to a pet store!

"Wanna go inside?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course, I want to!" I beamed. Ryder chuckled before holding my hand again and leading the way inside the store.

This is what I need right now after what happened with Scout a while ago. I don't want to think about him for a second, and these cute little puppies will surely divert my attention away from him.

The moment we entered the store, the cute little puppies welcomed us and started hovering under our feet. I immediately crouched down and patted their heads one by one. Para akong maiiyak sa saya dahil sobrang cute nila. They're golden retrievers, and they're so freaking cute! There are a lot of pets inside the store. There are birds and cats, too!

We found a spot on one corner after talking to the store clerk. I carried a golden retriever puppy on my arm and let him snuggle up to me.

"Hey, why are you crying? Did I make a mistake in bringing you here?" Ryder approached me and gently caressed my cheek, wiping away my tears. His blue eyes are softly staring at me. Ibinaba ko muna 'yung hawak kong puppy at saka ko siya niyakap nang mahigpit. Nagulat pa yata siya dahil sa ginawa ko.

"No, you didn't make a mistake. I'm actually crying because I'm happy that you brought me here. And I really appreciate you bringing me here, Ryder. Thank you." I whispered.

He hugged me back and softly patted my back. "Anything that can make you cry with happiness, Mackenna."

We hugged each other for a few seconds before we were interrupted by a phone call. It was my phone that was ringing. We both pulled away so I could check who was calling, but when I saw that it was Scout, I couldn't make myself answer the phone call. I gave him my number so we could contact each other later.

"Who was it?" Ryder asked.

"Spam call." I lied. I was about to put my phone back in my pocket when it chimed again. It was a text message from him this time.

Scout: AWIT gege </3

W H A T Y A S E Y